Isle of Wight and Hampshire among first to launch new single non-emergency number

From May 15, people living in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire have been able to call 101 to report all kinds of non-emergency anti social behaviour issues.

The new single national non-emergency number (SNEN) means that members of the community can easily report things they believe require action and gain access to safety advice and information.

Every caller will be given a reference number for use, if they need to make a follow-up call.

Partnerships have been established between councils and the police in five areas (South Wales, Hampshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, South Yorkshire and Northumbria). These sites were selected by the Home Office because of good practice in call handling.

Most people know the 999 service is there for emergencies: but up to 70 per cent of 999 calls to the police do not require an emergency response.

* Since its launch the new number has also received some calls from people with health worries or in need of medical attention. It is being stressed that callers who have health-related questions and concerns can contact NHS Direct on 0845 4747 or in an emergency should dial 999. Ambulance staff are highly trained in dealing with these calls and can provide an immediate response.

There have also been some 101 calls relating to fires. A fire is an emergency and 999 is the number to call.

Superintendent Nigel Hindle said: “Minutes count when it comes to fire and urgent health issues. Customers should call 99 and ask for the correct service to save these vital minutes.”

The aim of SNEN is to make it much easier for the public to access the services they need. It will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Calls to 101 will be charged at a fixed rate of 10p per call whether from landlines or mobiles. This decision was taken following wide consultation.

This showed that a small charge would not deter the public from using the service, but would reduce the likelihood of the service being abused.

The new service will compliment, rather than duplicate, existing non-emergency services and will improve the delivery of these services by providing a better coordinated response by local agencies.

Superintendent Hindle, who is responsible for managing the initiative, said: "In Hampshire, we currently receive 300,000 calls a year from people ringing 999, yet only 30 per cent of these are emergencies.

“We are committed to answering 999 calls within ten seconds, and we achieve that target more than 90 per cent of the time. If we can minimise the number of ‘non-urgent’ calls to 999, then we will be able to provide a far better service to all those people with a genuine emergency.”